1 BEHAVE LIKE A MOTHER (2/2)

”Xiao Lei, I did not know that you were awake.” He spoke softly.

She did not respond, and he did not expect that she would.

”Did you have another nightmare?” he asked.

She did, but she shook her head with cold and unfeeling eyes. Assenting would not make the nightmares end. It would be useless to confess. Her father also knew that she was lying, but he did not push.

”Do not worry. Father will make everything better. You do not have to be afraid. Nothing bad will happen again.” He comforted her.

She nodded in acceptance, perhaps to reassure him.

The soft cries of the seated woman could still be heard; she did not approach her daughter. Hu Lei looked at her with scorn and disappointment. After a moment, she turned and walked back up the stairs.

The man looked at his hysterical wife who had looked at their daughter like she was a monster.

”Lu Liang, I hope you will be able to move beyond your childishness and behave like a mother to Xiao Lei. If you cannot treat her well, I will take her away from you.” He said before following his daughter.

In truth, Hu Ming hoped that his words would be a wake-up call for his wife. He did not want to deprive Xiao Lei of her mother.

Unfortunately, there were no changes in Lu Liang in the months following that conversation. The woman became more and more alienated from her daughter, preferring to stay with friends instead of remaining home with the girl she now saw as a burden.

When Hu Lei turned ten, Hu Ming did not dare delay or continue hoping for a miracle. The environment in Supreme City was not conducive for Hu Lei, especially with a mother who treated her like the devil and old friends who shunned her, fearing that she was a ticking time bomb. She could not recover in a place where she was treated like a pariah.

Therefore, he made appropriate arrangements before leaving the country with Hu Lei.